Telephone



Nov. 21, 1933.

JpJ. BURKE El AL 1,936,245

TELEPHONE Filedv July 8, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 u, m .75 flmka 01 rr/fa's T Non-(sow Nov-21, 1933- J. J. BURKE Er AL TELEPHONE Filed July 8, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EHJ-BHITEZENTORS l ate nted Nov, 21 1933 Q v UNITED STATES 11,93 ,245 TELEPHONE John J. 'Burke,-..Quincy, and Archie T. Morrison, 1South 'Braintree, .=Mass., .assignors to q. S. ,H. Couch Company, Inc., .Quincy, Mas s., a corpo- .-rati pn of Massachusetts r Applicatio -J l 8,1931. Serial No. 549.360

Claims. (01. -17 9-:-100)' This-invention relates to telephonicapparatus shownfor use in a hookless and cordless teleandmore particularly to what may be .termed phonesystem, compactness is obtainedyby .an private telephones as distinguished from the pub- .,aligned relation of the transmitterand receiver -licservice telephones. Such private telephones and preferably alsoofa call bellwhen used with are-advantageousand in demand for many uses, a front rabbet or recess .ior enclosing-thenelec- .forexarnple, in'apartment houses to connect the tro-magnetic vibrator,,a,front recessjforthe line sever-al;apartments withthe lobby, in business and other,wireterminals, and a;row,of sockets ,and professional ofiices'to connectthe various to receive the pressrto-ta'lklkeyand oneor more departments, in private homes or estates to concall buttons which are accessible through holes nect the differentrooms within the house as well formed; inthe faceplate. vThenthe key. and but- ...as outlying. quarters and departments, etc. etc. ,tons are the, only parts ofthe. apparatuspro- A A very-large use of private telephones is dejecting, through the faceplate arias trueffiush rived;from'apartmenthouse systems wherein a telephoneis achieved. l

single transmitting andreceiving unit is installed To the, accomplishment .of these objects,. and in-theglobby, connected by'selective call lines such ,others asmay be explained'or described to the-multiplicity of instruments located in the hereinaftenthe invention comprises the features I several. apartments. -Such instrumentsmay be ,and. combinations of parts specifically disclosed .providedwithcord-connected receivers or, in ac-' by the following description and then particular- :cordance with-more; modern practice, they may ly; pointed outin their true scope by the appended 120 include a combined unit adapted to. act as both claims.

' receiver and transmitter permitting omission An understanding of the inventionwill beaided of the clumsy receiver with its hook and cord -by,referen ce tothe accompanying drawings showyandgproviding a fiush loudspeaker or'concealed ing a fiush loud speaker or concealed speaker, speaker-, cordless telephone. The hookless and cordless telephone for installation in the walleof .cordless type of telephone is moredesirable in an apartmentior,a-sirnilar environment, embody- 'aapartments because the wall unit may be coving the novel features of theinvention, which: .;ered:with, a;decorative faceplate of such attrac- Figures 1, 2 and 011. sheetoneshow the three ,tive and-ornamental appearance asnot V to-dis- -interfitting parts comprising theblock, its box and 1: figure the wall and thus call particular atten- .the wall outlet box, allin an exploded ordetached ,tion,tojtheinstallation. I relation; T 1 V S5 *The'object of the invention istoimprove-tele- Figure 1 being a view, in perspective,-. showing iphonesoithe kind just described havingthe adthe ,front ,f aceof the insulating blockwhich g-yantages, ,among others, of .-compact ness permounts-the combined receiving and transmitting .-:mitting; the -use.-,ofarelatively small face plate, apparatus, I

.;.and ease of installation. For simplicity of illus- Fig.2 being a view, in perspective, of theaptrationand description there is disclosed herein paratus-box orprotective shellby which the block .a ihOOklGSS and cordless combined transmitter may be seated in the wallbomand rand-loud 'speakerunit but those skilled in the art F ig.;3 being a view, -inperspective, looking into 4 will-recognize from the following descriptionthat thewall; box;

. 4 certain features. of the invention haveabroader Fig. 4 is a-view, ,in, frontelevation, of theas .;.aspect, and are useful intelephones ofother types. sembly of the parts shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3; 1.The wfeatures through which the objects of the Fig. 5 is a view, in full-size central'vertical invention are-attained include a unitary block section,-,on the line 5- -5 of Fig. 4, showingalso ofinsulatingmateriaL-on which alloperatingina ,coverplate in dotted lines; and I 145 strumentalities. are compactly mounted, adapted vFiggfi is a view,;in.ful1- ze elevation of the rear -to,befittedwithinanapparatus boxior, conven- .facenof the insulating block shown in Figs 1" .ienthandlingiwhich inQturn, seatswithin awall -and.4. v V Loutlet-boxipermitting'theassembly to ,be con- ,In-the embodiment of-the invention illustrated .[fcealedLbyaflrelativelysmallface plate. The inv inthe.drawingsfig; 3. shows a metal ,wall, .outlet V 50 .sulating.blojck is.completely@ironteconnectedand box of suitable-size and shape for receiving;;the 05 its holder-is soproportiqnedwith' respectftojthe compactly formed-insulating block. and its shell wall b X. ,tha f t LmaRbQSQSP X Ed' therein beof Figs. 1 and--2. The wall box comprises a 'g linewiresjandall cpnnecbody 10- and arim'll having. an .outturnedzflange tween ..the 1 jfiti, llltidns jthen, made to terminaisinplain View. In -l2,-;removably connected to the body, and anir- "the constru'ctionof'the insulating'block, herein -regular -inturned marginal' fiange 13 at its front tween said projecting wires.

opening. The usual knockouts for the line wires are provided in the body metal. The apparatus box, Fig. 2 is a skeletonized metal frame comprising a partially cut-out floor 14 having low sides and end walls 15 each having an outturned flange 16 at its front face. The length of this box or shell is such that, when rested in the wall box, its flanges 16 overlie the flange 13 and the two parts may be secured together by screws set through aligned holes in the two flanges. The width of the block-holder, as shown by Fig. 4, is somewhat less than the width of the opening presented by the rim 11 ofthe wall box. Because of this, after the line and bellwires have been lead into the box and then drawn through to stand at each side thereof the block shell containing the insulating block may, because of its lesser width, readily be seated Within the wall box be- It will be observed that the screw holes 17 of the shell are of oval shape. Should the workman seat the wall box slightly off the desired perpendicular the elongated holes 1'7 permit the shell and block 20 to be shifted angularly relative to the wall box to rectify its position and make positivea true vertical position on the wall of the cover plate 21 (dotted lines Fig. 5) which is secured in place by screws threaded into screw holes 18 centrally of the shell flanges 16.

The insulating block 20 and apparatus carried thereby will now be'described with reference to Figs. 1,4, 5 and 5. The block 20 may be molded of any suitable insulating material and is dimensioned to fit snugly within the apparatus box. Its face, at the top, is rabbeted to form a recess 22 (see also Fig. 5) in which the electro-magnetic vibrator 23 is mounted. Any suitable electromagnetic vibrator which can be fitted within the recess 22 may be used. Thegreatest thickness or depth of the block 20 is at its central part.

Here there is provided a single voice unit for transmitting and receiving designated generally 25 in Fig. 1. Below the voice unit 25 the block is again thinned or front recessed at 28 (see also Fig. 5) and here are supported two rows of terminals designated generally 30 in Fig. 1. Below the recess 28, and forming the lower end wall of the block 20, is another portion 32 of full thickness containing a row of sockets which receive a bank g of operating keys or push buttons designated generally 34 in Fig. 1.

The construction and arrangement of the Voice 'unit 25 is a highly important feature of our invention. This unit comprises a combined trans mitter and receiver in a single element the compactness of which, it is believed, has never before been attained. The block 20 is molded to form a sound amplifier in the form of a horn 36 (Figs. 1 and 5), at the rear or smaller end of which, within a circular centering recess, is mounted a receiver 38, a felt pad 39 being interposed between the receiver and the rear face of the block. A semi-circular bracket (Figs. 5 and 6) partly embraces and clamps the receiver firmly in position. The clamp 35 is the sole means for securing the receiver in position over the rear end of the amplifying horn and is provided with a central prong 3'7 entering a hole in the wall of the receiver to prevent angular displacement thereof. Centrally within the mouth of the horn thereis mounted a transmitter unit 40 the diaphragm of which is of less diameter than the diameter of the horn mouth lea ing an annular space between said unit and the 'diaphragms is less than two inches and yet reception is clear and distinct and entirely free from squealing. The transmitter unit 40 has a three point suspension. A small block 42 of insulating material serves to maintain its lower portion in r the proper plane and a plurality of arms 44, serving for the electrical connection, extend from its rear center upwardly through slots in the rim of the horn where the arm-ends are fastened through the block by screws 45 (see dotted lines Fig. 5) providing connection to the circuit at the rear face of the block.

A further improvement, gaining compactness and a reduction in size of the wall box required to be covered by the face plate, resides in the location of the bell or gong 48 when a louder signal than buzzing is desired; The bell is mounted on the back of the receiver 38 and concentrically thereto, it being of somewhat greater diameter as shown best by Fig. 5. A bell clapper 26-may extend rearwardly from the magnet armature. through a rear slot 24 in the block. Thus we produce an exceedingly compact unit embodying transmitter, receiver and gong all in alignment and conveniently centrally of-the block'20. The gong shell 48 may be removed at will if the more subdued buzz is preferred but either provides an electro-magnetic vibrating signal.

The electrical connections through the block to the bell and line wires entering-the wall box maybe formed in various ways and their detail is not important to the invention claimed herein. Those skilled in the art of telephony will recognize the various leads and circuitsfrom the illustra tion. It will be sufficient for us to say that conveniently straps may be laid in channels molded in the back of the block 20. In Fig. 6 the two inner straps designated B lead respectively from the bell to the two right-hand ter-.

from the transmitter to the left hand terminal of the lower row and to the terminal in the upper row in Fig. 4 just above the two bell terminals. The receiver, as shown in Fig. 6, is in circuit with the bell and, by connection to the horizontal strap 49, with the transmitter and with all-the line connections. The firstithree of the bank-of press buttons 34, from left to right inFig. 4, may be used to open the lobby door of the apartment building, and as call buttons to otherstations. The press button 50 at the right is the press-to-talk key which, in this concealed speaker cordless telephone substitutes for the automatic circuit closing obtained when a receiver is removed from its hook. A battery bar-52 are. made with ease and rapidity because all terminals are at the front of the block. The unit may be defined as completely front-connected. The electrician needs to handl'etwo members only, the

wall box and the apparatus which contains various circuits is to connect the several line wires v to their respective terminals which are all in plain sight ande'asily accessible, the work of but a mojment." The face plate issecured and the jobis paratus box having a front opening the complete, factory-assembled insulating block. The only manipulation required to complete the completed. The improved assembly is equally advantageous in repair work for, on removal of the {face plate, all of the electrical connections are at V I The nature and 'scopeof the invention having been indicated and its preferred embodiment havonce exposed to view.

ing been specifically described, what is claimed as new, is:'-.

L'Apparatus for telephones of the concealed speaker hookless and cordless type comprising a unitary block of insulating material having a sound amplifying aperture, a front electro-magnetic vibrator receiving recess, a front wire terminals receiving recess, and sockets for a series of call buttons and a press-to-talk key, said recesses being dimensioned to shelter the parts to be received therein to present a front planate face on the block suitable to take a flush cover.

2. Apparatus as specified in claim 1 having, in

combination, an apparatus box dimensioned snugly to receive the block of insulating material, and

a wall outlet box considerably deeper than the apto receive the apparatus box within said opening,

said apparatus-box and wall box having opposed portions to permit suspension of the apparatus box 7 within the outlet box.

3. A supporting structure comprising a wall outlet box having a frontopening, an apparatus box of less depth than the wall box having a body portion dimensioned to be received within said front opening and provided with partial side walls and upper and lower outturned flanges at its front face, and said outlet box having marginal means for suspending said apparatus box 7 within it, the line wire space beneath the apparatus box being in communication with the apparatus box by reason of its partial side walls.

4;. Front connected apparatus for concealed receiver suite telephones comprising a wall outlet box having a front opening, a block of insulating material carrying a transmitter, receiver, electromagnetic vibrator and complete connections at its rear face for a suite telephone system said connections leading to a series of terminals at the front face of the block, and an apparatus box forsaid block narrower than the front opening of said wall box and supported in said front opening between line wires led into the wall box and projecting forwardly between the wall and apparatus boxes facilitating front connection thereof to said terminals after the apparatus box has been seated within. the wall box.

5. Concealed speaker hookless and cordless telephone apparatus comprising a unitary block of insulating material having a cone-shaped amplifying horn and supporting a receiver, transmitter, electromagnetic vibrator, bank of call buttons including a press-to-talk key and electrical connections therefrom at the back of the block and leading through the block to a series of terminals all exposed at the front of the block and adapted selectively to call other stations and to connect the same in circuit.

6. Flush concealed receiver telephone apparatus comprising a block of insulating material having an aperture for amplifying sound, a receiver unit mounted at the back of the block dimensioned for a suite telephone having a diaphragm covering one end of said aperture, and a transmitter unit mounted within the forward end of the'aperture having a diaphragm dimensioned to-{only partly close said end',.the diaphragms of said rece'iverand trans-' mitter being substantially'in parallel planes and spaced by the substantial thickness of the block. '7. The invention as specified in claim 6 in which the receiver mounting comprises a clamp which engages the "receiver unit externally and is secured to the insulating block.

- 8. The invention as specified in claim 6 in which the receiver unit is provided with a hole in'its'peripheral wall and its mounting comprises a semi-circular clamp secured to the insulating block and having a prong to enter said hole.

9. The invention as specified in claim 6 in which the transmitter mounting comprises a plurality of supporting arms extending outward from the transmitter to points outside the rim of said aperture, said supporting arms constituting the electrical connections to the transmitter.

10. A concealed speaker hookless and cordless V flush suite telephone comprising a block ofinsulating material having an aperture extending through its front and back faces for amplifying sound, a the aperture at its forward end, a receiver mounted at the back face of the block over the rear end of the aperture, and an electro-magnetic vibrator seated in a front recess of said block.

11. Flush loud speaker telephone apparatus terial seated in said box with its front face sub stantially flush with the box front and having a cone-shaped aperture flaring from back to front transmitter unit suspended within "comprising a wall box, a block of insulating ma- 12. A block of insulating material for a concealed speaker hookless and cordless telephone molded to provide a Walled sound amplifying aperture opening through the front and back faces of the block, a front recess at one sideof said aperture wall, a front recess at the other side of said aperture wall, a row of sockets through the block adjacent to said last named front recess, and having a circular recessat its rear face surrounding the opening of said sound amplifying aperture 'at'the back of the block.

13. A combined'transmitting and receiving assembly for hookless and cordless telephones comprising; a block of insulating material having a cone-shaped sound amplifying aperture therethrough larger at front end than rear end, a transmitter and a receiver at the front and rear ends respectively of said aperture, electrical connections leading from the transmitter through the block to its rear face, and electrical connections-confined to the rear face of the block'leading from the receiver in circuit with the transmitter.

1a. In an intercommunicating hookless and cordless telephone comprising telephonecircuit 'mechanism, a unitary block serving as the supopen end to leave an annular space between said unit and the wall of the aperture, a receiver mountd on the rear face of the block over the rear open end of said aperture, an electro-mag- 'netic vibrator and aseries of circuit terminals 5 for said telephone circuit supported by said block 7 and exposed only at the front face of said block,

and means exposed at the front face of the block for connecting the transmitter through its supports into the telephone circuit.

15. In an intercommunicating hookless and' cordless telephone comprising telephone circuit mechanism and push button circuit mechanism, a unitary block serving'as a common support for the intercommunicating devices and the push' buttons, said block having a sound amplifying parts Within them below the plane of the front face of the block permitting securement of a flush cover plate over said aperture and said recesses and through which said buttons project.

JOHN J. BURKE.

ARCHIE T. MORRISON. 

